Montana LIHEAP Receives Unexpected Federal Money

Unanticipated federal money has added $2 million to Montana's LIHEAP budget. The money is part of $50 million the state received from the federal tax cut passed earlier this year.

Of the $2 million, $1.5 million will be used to help pay low-income households' winter heating bills, and $500,000 will be used to help weatherize more homes.

The money is not the first unexpected federal windfall for the state LIHEAP office. In October, the office received $500,000 as part of a reward to the state for good performance in welfare programs, particularly TANF. That bonus was part of a $3.9 million reward.

Also in October, Montana's universal system fund (USF), set up by deregulation legislation, contributed $1.7 million to state low-income energy assistance programs, including LIHEAP (see story in the November 2003 LIHEAP networker).

Sources: Lee Newspaper, The Great Falls Tribune

Page Last Updated: December 7, 2005